No. 4 Ohio St. 85, E. Kentucky 38

11/22/2005 12:06 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio State star Jessica Davenport might not have to carry the load this season.

Davenport had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Brandie Hoskins added career highs of 25 points and 10 assists to lead No. 4 Ohio State over Eastern Kentucky 85-38 on Monday night in the Buckeyes' season opener.

Debbie Merrill, a Cincinnati transfer who was required to sit out last season, had 11 points in her Ohio State debut.

Hoskins and Merrill should prevent opposing defenses from focusing on the 6-foot-4 Davenport, a preseason first-team All-American who dominates the low post. The trio made 26 of 35 shots against Eastern Kentucky.

``Most very good basketball teams have three players who can score the ball,'' Buckeyes coach Jim Foster said.

Davenport made 11 of 14 shots, with nearly all coming close to the basket against the undersized Colonels. Eastern Kentucky (0-2) was outscored 56-14 in the paint.

Ohio State shot 57.8 percent and had 23 assists against just nine turnovers. Hoskins helped the Buckeyes with her shooting and passing, hitting 10 of 14 field goals to go along with 10 assists.

The Buckeyes' point guard relishes working with Davenport and Merrill.

``I believe that they are two of the best post players in the country, so my job is easy. I just have to get the ball up to them,'' Hoskins said.

Eastern Kentucky hung tough for a half against an Ohio State team returning most of its players from a 30-5 squad that reached the round of 16 in last season's NCAA tournament.

The Colonels, led by Laura Shelton's 10 points, trailed 37-27 at halftime but they quickly fell apart after the break.

Ohio State scored 25 of the first 31 points in the second half to build a 62-33 lead with 10:19 remaining. Davenport had 10 points and Hoskins had four points and three assists in the surge.

Eastern Kentucky missed 15 of 20 shots in the second half and was outscored 48-11.

``The difference was our guard play stepped up defensively,'' Foster said. ``Basketball is a simple game when you can pressure the other team's guards and move the ball offensively.''

Colonels coach Larry Joe Inman skipped the postgame news conference and no one from the team was made available for comment.

Shelton only took two shots in the second half and failed to score. She was the only Eastern Kentucky player in double figures.

Eastern Kentucky was held to 37 percent shooting and had 23 turnovers, leading to 35 Ohio State points.

Marscilla Packer added 10 points for the Buckeyes.